Srinagar, July 28: The U.S. Department of State has announced major changes to its visa interview waiver policy, effective from September 2. All non-immigrant visa applicants — including children under 14 and adults over 79 — will now be required to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer.
This applies to all non-immigrant visa categories, such as tourist and business (B-1/B-2), student (F and M), work (H-1B), and exchange (J) visas. Diplomatic visas under categories A and G are also included.
The update, issued on July 25 to bolster security, has sparked concerns among H-1B holders and other visa applicants about potential delays and longer processing times.
All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer, except for the following categories:
• Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1
• Diplomatic or Official-Type Visas: Applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas
• Renewing B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 Visa Holders: Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 visa within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration, who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa’s issuance.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that consular officers continue to have the authority to require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis, regardless of eligibility for an interview waiver. This new guidance overrides the previous Interview Waiver Update issued on February 18, 2025.
“Consular officers may still request an in-person interview for any reason,” the USCIS stated in its release. “Applicants are advised to visit the websites of U.S. embassies or consulates for detailed information on visa application requirements, procedures, and the current operational status of services.”
